Rising Star Don Gunnell

Aug 10, 2009

Name: Don Gunnell

Age: 35

Organization: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division

Title: Systems engineer

Nominated for: Spearheading the procurement and deployment of a wireless network to handle voice, video and data at Twentynine Palms’ massive testing ground. The wireless reach-back system is likely to be replicated at all Navy and Marine Corps ranges, including locations in Iraq.

First IT mentor: Steven Douglas, lead engineer in my telecommunications engineering branch. Steve has provided me with many great opportunities within our group and has shown me the inner workings of government engineering and support.

Latest accomplishment: I am currently leading an effort to expand network capability for Marine Forces Pacific bases, posts and stations. This effort will provide flexibility and lower-cost alternatives for the corps' network expansion requirements.

Career highlight: Providing engineering and technical support on the Mobile At-Sea Sensor Platform (Navy) for the Pacific Missile Range Facility.

The annual Rising Star awards are presented by the 1105 Government Information Group, publisher of Federal Computer Week, GCN and Washington Technology, to public and private sector employees in the federal IT community who have gone above and beyond their job descriptions to make a lasting impact in their organization. See all the 2009 Rising Star award winners.

FCW investigated efforts by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to improve a joint data repository on military and veteran suicides. Something as impersonal and mundane as incomplete datasets could be exacerbating a national tragedy.